I looking for the current best combination of tools for developing a Java web app using Spring MVC (and Spring) and JRebel. Which IDE (which version, which plugins?), which other build tools (maven, gradle?)? Tomcat/Jetty? Embedded? How to fit them together so that the development process becomes quick and painless.
Has anybody got some tried and tested combinations that work really well? Any you would avoid?
I'm developing on Windows 7, using Java 7, looking to use latest production releases of libraries/frameworks.